Join Rebecca and Sarah and their special guest, Frances, as they discuss how they choose their books and what they hope to gain out of those choices.
S1 E8: Why We Chose The Books We Do
Join Rebecca and Sarah and their special guest, Frances, as they discuss how they choose their books and what they hope to gain out of those choices.
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The Book Dialogue
Thank you once again for sharing yourselves in this delightful podcast. I choose books for various reasons, but the one reason which usually never fails is that of recommendations from people I respect as critical readers. My favorite genre is historical fiction, so I’ve just added Frances’ current pick, Wolf Hall to my TBR. My favorite parts of your discussion were about time and how reading affects us. I suspect there is an almost spiritual aspect of stories which connects us to all time and has meaning beyond our comprehension. As the writer Linda Hogan says, stories are for people what water is for plants. Where does a story begin or end?
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What a perfect quote – it is a marvelous benediction to the discussion. I want to thank you especially for introducing Frances to Lynn Austin – she is now almost finished a third book. The other night, I was expecting Frances call which usually comes at 8p.m. By 9:00 I wondered what had happened. When I called her, she was listening to a Lynn Austin book and lost track of time. Her comment – “Lynn Austin books are a page turner – you never want to stop reading.”
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Oh how wonderful! There are so many to read, and there are more to come. Hugs all around!
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I enjoyed this edition of “The Book Dialog,” starting with Rebecca’s comment that she doesn’t want to read the books that Sarah recommends. I got a good chuckle out of that.
Speaking of Dr. Seuss, I remember my dad reading me “The Cat in the Hat” when I was very little, and we delighted in the cat’s naughtiness together and how horrified Mummy would be if we were to invite the cat in the hat into our home.
When I was in high school, I remember reading as much as I could about the Jewish experience, the African American experience, Faulkner’s characters’ experience, etc.– to really immerse myself in learning about other perspectives on the world.
For a number of years, I had pretty much stopped reading novels, focusing instead on short stories. Then I got my mother a book-a-month subscription, and she wanted me to read the novels and discuss them with her, so that’s how I got back to them. I’ve also gotten back into reading books of poetry, which I hadn’t done in years. I choose those books based on hearing the poet read or reading his or her work online. All it takes is one really powerful poem to sell me on buying the book.
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Oh, Liz, what a wonderful journey through creative writing. I especially appreciated the ways in which you engaged, how circumstances and people influenced yours reading decisions. “All it takes is one really powerful poem to see me on buy the book.” Yes, I have experienced the same thing. Those conversations with your mother are now a vital and real memory that gives a sense of continuing. Do you remember Readers Digest and their condensed books? I have been auditing a art history course (don’t want to take another exam – YIKES) and have come to printing machines. Bless those inventors.
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Yes, I do remember Readers Digest condensed books. There was a selection of them at my grandparents’ cottage in Cape Elizabeth. I remember reading Marjorie Morningstar. Given how well-educated and how well-read my grandmother was, I am now surprised that she had them there. Who knows? Maybe the books came with the cottage, along with the old guy’s whittled figurines.
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Oh my, Marjorie Morningstar. Wasn’t that made into a movie? I love that name – Cape Elizabeth. There’s a story behind that name….
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I think you’re right that Marjorie Morningstar was made into a movie. Your comment about Cape Elizabeth piqued my curiosity. Here is what the town’s website has to say about the name:
“As early as 1529, Cape Elizabeth appears as a nameless headland mapped by a Spanish cartographer.
Seventy-five years later, Samuel de Champlain charted the promontory, but not until 1615, following exploration by John Smith, was the land given its name in honor of Princess Elizabeth, sister of Charles I of England.”
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What an interesting history. I think I’ve mentioned that I’m reading Bush Runner, the story of Radisson. There is mention of Champlain, but I’m will need to go back in history. Charles II was on the throne when Radisson went to the English to start the Hudson’s Bay Company. Thank you so much for the added information. Love history!!!
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